THINK.CHANGE.DO Glitter The Ideal Trace Evidence?

THINK.CHANGE.DOGlitter – The Ideal Trace Evidence?Richard Kam, Linda Xiao, Xanthe Spindler,Philip Maynard, Claude RouxCentre for Forensic Science, University ofTechnology, Sydney, Australia

Ribaux O., Baylon A., Lock E., Delémont, O., Roux C.,., Zingg C., Margot P. Intelligence-led crime sceneprocessing. Intelligence and crime scene. Forensic Science International 199 (2010) 63–716.

Introduction Glitter is a man-made piece of aluminium foil orplastic that is cut up into tiny individual pieces. Cut into shapes such as hexagon, square orrectangle. Some special shapes can also be cut. Around for many years but was not usedfrequently. However, in today’s society it can be found in alarge range of products. Recently, it has been involved in criminal casesand has been used as evidence.UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Introduction Ideal trace evidence:– Nearly invisible; glitter is so small, it is hard to seeunder normal conditions.– High probability of transfer and persistence; glitter issmall and lightweight.– Highly selective; glitter can be categorised into varioussub-classes (such as shape, size, thickness, colour,etc.).– Quickly and easily collected, separated andconcentrated; glitter can be tape lifted and searchedwith hand held lighting.– Easily characterised; similar to “highly selective”.UTS: Centre for Forensic Science– Computerised database capability.

Aims Characterise and differentiate the glitter products,including within the Australian markets andmanufactures. Determine the types of techniques to be used forglitter examination with their relative value andlimitations. Provide information on the brand, country, colour,shape, etc. for the purpose of identification usingthese techniques.UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Materials and MethodsSamples A total of 239 glitter samples (120 glitter samples providedby Bob Blackledge and purchased in Australia).Table 3. Country of Manufacture and brand of glitter samplesBrand of GlitterSampleMeadowbrookInventionsCelebrations ofAustraliaZing!Number of GlitterSamples120Bob Blackledge84Lincraft5SpotlightJones TonesCountry ofManufactureUnited States ofAmericaUnited States ofAmericaUnited States ofAmericaChina9SpotlightFizzChina13SpotlightMartha StewartKorea3SpotlightUnknown fromDollar ShopUnknown5Dollar ShopObtained fromUTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Materials and MethodsApproach Optical examination under low power stereomicroscope. Objective colour measurement bymicrospectrophotometry. Comparison microscopy and surface texture. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) in Attenuated TotalReflectance (ATR) mode. Construction of database using FileMaker Pro 11. Blind tests.UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Results & DiscussionGeneral No glitter samples were found to be manufacturedin Australia. Mostly manufactured in United Statesof America and China. Results tabulated into excel based on shape,colour, size and area. Assorted into common classes.UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Results & DiscussionNumber of Samples (%)Colours of Glitter18161412108642016.714.611.3 10.9 10.58.88.46.353.32.11.72.1ColourFigure 1. Number of colours (%) in the glitter samples (the percentage does not add up to 100%because samples had more than one colour in the sample)UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Results & Discussion Well known limitations associated with colourdetermination. Colour can be affected by different lightingconditions, angle of observation, properties of thevarious plastic layers and colour shifting effects. Common classes or microspectrophotometry.UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Results & DiscussionFigure 2. The different irregular common shapesUTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Results & DiscussionNumber of Samples(%)Shapes of Glitter80604020065.726.84.23.80.8ShapeFigure 3. Number o to itschemical composition analysis. Blind test were identified correctly with the help of theconstructed database.UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Recommendation Further development of the database, includingaddition of information regarding:––––A layers section;A specific gravity section;Raman microscopy;SEM/EDS. Transfer, persistence and prevalenceexperiments.UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Acknownledgement Bob Blackledge for providing some of the samplesand general advice .UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Additional References1. 'Alexander v. State' 1992, Alexander v. State, viewed 27th June 2010 http://www.touchngo.com/ap/html/ap-1242.htm .2. Blackledge, R.D. 2007, Forensic Analysis on the Cutting Edge: New Methodsfor Trace Evidence Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, New Jersey.3. Bradley, M., Lowe, P. & Ward, D. 2003, Glitter: the analysis and significance ofan atypical trace evidence examination, Poster presentation at the AnnualMeeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA.4. Burgess, C. 2005, 'OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY Stray Light', in W. Paul, T.Alan & P. Colin (eds), Encyclopedia of Analytical Science, Elsevier, Oxford,pp. 443-448.5. Detection, S. 2005, Trace Analysis of Glitter Particles, Application Brief AB060, www.smithsdetection.com .6. Grieve, M.C. 1987, 'Glitter particles - an unusual source of trace evidence?',Journal of the Forensic Science Society, vol. 27, pp. 405-412.7. Schubert, G. 2004, Personal communication, Forensic Scientist, Illinois StatePolice, Southern Illinois Forensic Science Centre, Carbondale, IL, USA.8. Smith, J. 2005, Personal communication, Criminalist III, Missouri StateHighway Patrol Crime Lab, Jefferson City, MO, USA.

UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Meadowbrook Inventions United States of America 120 Bob Blackledge Celebrations of Australia United States of America 84 Lincraft Zing! United States of America 5 Spotlight Jones Tones China 9 Spotlight Fizz China 13 Spotlight Martha Stewart Korea 3 Spotlight Unknown from Dollar Shop Unknown 5